Latch mechanism



Jan. 5, 1960 F. w. CRI-:w 2,919,570

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept.. 26, 1957 v r I 47 4 Q f2 y wm. 22 771%? /flfrem 2,991.9.;510 LATCH MECHANISM Fred w. ctr'ew, Detroit, Mich. applicati@ september 26 1957, serial No. @6,321 iaclim. (emot-e211) This invention relates to a combination doorr handle and mounting plate assembly for the swinging doors of various structures,"the assembly including a means for locking the handleagainst movement.

The door vhandle assembly embodying the present in vention isrparticularly adapted for doors having a relav tively thincross-sect-io-nal. thickness, such as found on metal panel doors used on vehicle truck bodies or the like. It is a characteristic of the present invention that all of the operational partsv of the mechanism are carried by and within` an ornamental casing adapted to be fastened tothefexterior .surface of the door. It is further characteristicA of the present invention that the arc through` which thehandle is swingable to actuate the latch mechanismv adapted to be operatively connected thereto may be controlled by a simple presetting device whereby the handle may be swingable only to either the left or to the right or through an intermediate range. And, it risan object ofthe4 present invention to provide a compact,`inexpensive, light weight but rigid and durable assemblyfully adapted for the^purposes intended.

Otherfobjects, advantagesV andY features of the present invention Vwill appear in the following description and appendeclclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, Iwherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevationof the door handle and mounting plate assembly embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in part sectional taken substantially through line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially through the line 3 3V of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, the rear cover plate of the mechanism having been removed; and

Fig. 4 is a reanview ofthe structure embodying the present invention as it appears with the rear cover plate in place. f

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the detailsfofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is'to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.y

This application, is a continuationein-part of my copending rapplication Serial No. 605,982, tiled August 24,

In the drawing there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a handle and mounting plate assembly, generally designated 10. The operative mechanism oftheassembly is contained within a housingorbodyll which is substantially oval in shape (see Fig. 3 one) and which is provided with apertured appendages 12 adapted to receive rivets or square shank bolts (not shown) for securing the assembly 1Q, on Vth exeitte-rior surface of a door, such as a metal "ice ' panel door on a vtruck bodyk or on a metal garage door.

As seen in side elevation, the housing or body 11 is of relatively thin cross-section (see Fig. 2). The housing or body 11 is provided with two frustum shaped bosses 13 and 14. The bosses 13 and 14 are located at each end of the body 11. The longitudinal axes of the two bosses 13 and 14 are` parallel to each other and normal to the surface 15 of the body, 11. Eachof the bosses 13 and 14 are provided with cavities or bores 16 and 17, respectively, adapted to receive cylindrical devices.

It will be noted that the bore 16 in the boss 17 is adapted to receive a conventional key cylinder locking mechanism 18. The key cylinder mechanism 18 is of a `conventional type v adapted'tofbe actuated by a key inserted therein, the key being shown -at 19. When the key is inserted in the key cylinder locking mechanism, the key may be manipulated tok cause lturning movement of an eccentrically mounted pin 20, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. v 4

The bore` 17 of the boss 14 is adapted to receive the cylindrical shank 21 of a handle 22. The handle 22 is shown as an elongated member adapted to be easily grasped and swung for operation of a latch bolt mechanism. Extending lfrom the shank 21 is a stem 23 which may be of any desirable length.

The present yinventionis n ot directly concerned with the nature of the latch bolt mechanism'operated by the door handle and mounting plate assembly 10 shown herein. lt is believed readily apparentthat the stem 23 may be operatively connected to a conventional roll back -mechanismv for moving a sliding latch bolt from door latched to door unlatched position.; Or, that the stem 23 may be adaptedto kcarry a,bellcrnkleverconnected by a cable means to a slidableflatch bolt movable from a door latched to a doorlunlatched position. Therefore, it is deemed unnecessary to g further than the stern 23 for an understanding o-f the present invention.

The presentinvention is concerned with the provision of a means for rendering the *door-handle 22 unswingable thereby preventing. any turning movement-of the stem 23 which'might-be transmitted `to a latch bolt by any appropriate linkage or,t cablefsystemf Accordingly, it will be noted that'the housing" or body 11fis of a substantially hollow or shell-like construction, it being hollowed out from the underside, and so as to provide a recess 24 adapted to receive the operative parts of the mechanism. These operative parts` comprise a lockk bolt or plate 25 and a pair of lcck'cams 26.

The lock bolt or plate 25 is slidably journalled in one end section 27 of the recess 24. The lock bolt or plate V25 is substantially rectangular in shape and has two laterally extending ears 28 and a longitudinally extending projection 29 terminating in a lug 30 extending at a substantially` right angle to the plane of the plate 25. The

upper end of the plate v 25 projects into guide ways 31 which are al longitudinal extension of the recess section 27. The lock bolt or plate 25 is continually urged in the direction of the handle stem 23 by a pair of coil springs 32 located on each side thereof. The coil springs single thickness of metal. It being most economical to stamp the cams 26 of lighterg'uage metal, two cams are provided to give the required strength. Each cain is provided with asquarefhole at its center so that it fits' over thes'quare stem 23 ofthe handle and is turnable thereby. Each cam is provided with a notch 34 of a width complementary to the width 'of the lug 30 on the lock bolt or plate 25. Each cam is provided with a reduced diameter section 35 on the edge thereof opposite the notch 35, which section extends for an effective distance of 180. The terminal edges of the reduced diameter section provide a left abutment 36 and a right abutment 37, as viewed in Fig. 3, for a purpose to be explained.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the eccentrically mounted pin 20 projects into a longitudinally extending aperture 38 in the lock bolt or plate 25. The pin 20 as it is swung about the center of the key cylinder mechanism 18 upon the key 19 being turned therein is adapted to engage the upper edge 39 of the aperture 38 and thereby to raise the lock bolt or plate 25 against the opposing force of the springs 32. When the pin 20 has raised the lock bolt or plate 25 a suicient distance to remove the lug 30 out of the notch 34 of the cams, the handle is freely swingable, exceptfor the restriction placed on said swinging movement by certain control elements as will now be explained. A

The first control element comprisesY a stop lug 40 located at the bottom of the recess 24 and on the longitudinal axis of the housing or body 11. The stop lug 40 is so positioned that it lies in the path of either of the cam abutments 36 or 37. Without anything further, the swinging movement of the handle would be restricted to a 90 movement to either the left (clockwise) or to the right (counterclockwise) as viewed in Fig. l. However, further provision is made for-selectively restricting the swinging movement of the handle even further. The bottom surface of the portion of the recess 24 in which the clams 26 operate is provided with a series of tapped holes 4 1, 42, 43 and 44 respectively, spaced 45 apart. By the judicious placement of one or more pins 45 in the proper tapped hole or holes, the swinging movement of thehandle may be restricted to a predetermined range.

For example, in Fig. 3 the pin 45 is shown placed in the tapped hole 41. Thus, as viewed in Fig. 3 the handle cannot be swung in a counterclockwise direction (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1) since the cam abutment 36 is in abutting relation to the pin 45. The handle can only be swung in a clockwiseV direction (counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. l) through a 90 range of movement, that is, until the abutment 37 engages the permanent stop 40. If the pin 45 were removed from the hole 41 and placed in the hole 44, the handle would again be swingable through a 90 movement but only in a direction opposite to the previously described arrangement.

If for any reason it were desired to limit the handle movement to a 45 range in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, it is only necessary to position a pin 45 in holes 41 and 43. The pin `41 prevents any movement from the starting position in a counterclockwise direction and the pin 43 limits the clockwise movement to 45 since the abutment 37 will engage the pin 43 after such movement has occurred.

The placement of pins 45 in holes 42 and 44 restricts movement to a 45 counterclockwise movement as viewed in Fig. 3. The placement of pins 45 in holes 42 and 43 restricts movement of the handle to 90, that is, 45 o each side of the center.

As shown in Fig. 4, the back cover plate 46 is provided with access holes 47 through which the pins 45 may be withdrawn for repositioning. The cover plate 46 is preferably held in place by a lock ring48 which snaps on the projecting portion of the handle stem 23.

It will be readily understood that the pins 45'may be permanently press fit, if desired, into suitable holes to give a handle mechanism having the desired operating characteristics. However, the present handle mechanism with screw insertable pins 45 is particularly adapted for use by truck body manufacturers. It is thus possible to supply a standard handle mechanism which may readily be adapted for use on left hand, right hand or other conipartment doors by the mere repositioning of the pins 45 prior to installation. It thus enables the handle assembly to be produced on a volumebasis even though the sales volume to individual truck body or the like manufacturers is on a small lot basis.

In Fig. 3, the handle assembly is shown in handle locked condition. That is, the lug 30 on the lock bolt or plate 25 is in engagement with lock cam notches 34. To release the handle for swinging movement, it is necessary to insert the key 19 in the key cylinder mechanism. Upon the key being turned the eccentric pin 20 will swing from the solid line position to the dot and dash line position shown in Fig. 3. The lock bolt or plate 25 will be moved upwardly against the opposition of the springs 32 and the lug 30 will be withdrawn from the cam notches 34. The handle may then be swung with the range of swinging movement being limited according to the pre-installation placement of the pin or pins 45 and also as limited by the fixed stop lug 40.

Once the handle has been moved so that the cam notches 34 are out of alignment with the lug 30 on the plate 25, the key may be returned to its neutral position and withdrawn from the key cylinder mechanism 18, if desired. The peripheral surfaces of the lock cams 26 will hold the lock bolt or plate in its uppermost position until the handle is turned to align the lug 40 with the cam notches 34. As soon as this alignment occurs, the springs 32 will cause the lock bolt or plate 25 to automatically drop down and the lug 40 to enter the notches 34 thus restoring the handle to locked condition.

Referring to Fig. 4, the access holes 47 are shown with reference indicia alongside. Thesev indicia are used in pre-setting the swinging range of thehandle according to the following chart.

Pin In A right. B -D 45 left. C-A .Q 45 right. D l 90 left. B-C 145 right-left.

The right or left referred to is the direction of swinging movement of the handle as viewed in Fig. 1.

It will be readily understood that the handle locked position may be other than the vertical position illustrated. The handle may assume ay locked condition in a horizontal position so as to extend to the right or left of the housing or body 11, the latter being positioned as viewed in Fig. 1. The initial placement of the cams 26 on the stem 23 controls the locking position of the handle. That is, if the cams 26 are placed so that the notch 34 is adjacentY the side 49 (see Fig. 3) of the stem 23, the handle in locked position will be in a horizontal direction and the handle would extend to the left side of the housing 11, as viewed in Fig. l. It would then be necessary to place a pin 45 in the hole 41 to prevent the handle from being swung above the horizontal level since such movement would cause it to hit the key 19. Should it be desired to place the handle to extend to the right as viewed in Fig. l, the cams would be positioned on the stem 23 so that the cam notches would lie adjacent the stem side 50. The pin 45, in this instance, would be positioned in the hole 44. Should it be desired to limit the downward swinging movement of the handle from a horizontal position to a position at a 45 angle thereto, it would be necessary to place a pin 45 in either the hole 42 or the hole 43, as the case might be.

From the foregoing, it is believed apparent that the structure embodying the present invention provides a simple multi-use door handle mechanism which may be easily adjusted to provide the desired characteristics of` operation.

I claim; A latch actuating mechanism comprising a housing having spaced boss portions projecting outwardly from one surface thereof, handle means tur'nably journalled in one of said boss portions, key cylinder means housed within the other of said boss portions, said handle means including stem means projecting beyond the surface of said housing opposite said one surface, lock cam means coupled to said stem means within a first recess in said housing, said lock cam means being provided with a peripheral notchand a pair of peripherally spaced abutments, a lock plate member slidably journalled Within a second recess in said housing, said rst and second recesses lying in spaced co-planar relationship and being interconnected by a longitudinally extending slot, said lock plate member having an abutment portion thereon projecting Vthrough said slot in a substantially co-planar relationship to said lock cam means, said abutment portion in locked condition of said latch mechanism being normally engaged with said notch to render said lock cam means and thereby said handle means nonturnable, guide means guiding said lock plate member for movement in a straight line, said guide means comprising longitudinally extending substantially parallel walls of a longitudinal extension of said second recess, said extension being diametrically opposite said slot, means operatively connectn ing said key cylinder means to said lock plate member whereby said key cylinder means upon actuation thereot is effective to move the lock plate member to position the abutment portion thereon out of engagement with said notch, spring means mounted within said second recess at each side of said lock plate member in co-planar relation thereto, said spring means urging said lock plate member toward normal lock cam means engaging position, fixed and selectively positionable stops carried by said housing, each of said stops projecting into said rst recess and interposed between said lock cam means abutrnents, said fixed and selectively positionable stops coacting with said lock cam means abutments to limit the turning movement of said handle means in a predetermined direction and to a predetermined range of movement when said lock plate member abutment portion is out of engagement with said notch.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 355,311 Furbish Jan. 4, 1887 2,442,763 Falk June 8, 1948 2,651,193 Welch Sept. 8, 1953 2,804,765 Biblin Sept. 3, 1957 

